Billie Piper could become Doctor Who, says Tennant

ACTOR David Tennant has hinted Billie Piper could become the next Doctor Who.

ACTOR David Tennant has hinted Billie Piper could become the next Doctor Who.

The star, 37, last week sensationally revealed he was quitting the Cardiff-filmed hit sci-fi after winning the Outstanding Drama Performance gong at the National Television Awards.

Following his announcement, speculation about who would take over reached fever pitch, with Cold Feet star James Nesbitt and John Simm, of Life on Mars, being named front-runners in the race to find the next Doctor.

But yesterday there was a new twist after Tennant was asked if he could ever envisage a female – or his one-time side kick Rose Tyler, played by actress Billie Piper – becoming the 11th incarnation of the character.

He replied: “Why not?”

And he added: “It’s one of those parts that any actor could bring something valid to because it can be anything and it’s a blank canvas every time.

“The fact is that the difference is a virtue with each Doctor. It’s not like you’re casting Tarzan where you’ve got to have somebody who looks good in a loin cloth, it can be anything.”

Following the interview, a flurry of bets led to bookmaker William Hill lowering its odds from 20/1 to 12/1 on an actress being awarded the part.

Spokesman for the firm Graham Sharpe said it had calculated odds of 16/1 for former pop star Piper to take on the role, and odds of 33/1 on comedienne Dawn French being named the next Doctor.

“She could play the Doctor and Lenny Henry could be her sidekick,” Mr Sharpe said.

William Hill has also placed odds of 16/1 on Torchwood star Eve Myles taking on the role.

Miss Myles, 30, has already appeared in the hit BBC Wales series and was spotted for a part in its spin-off show while she was playing a supporting role in the episode The Unquiet Dead.

As a result, the character Gwen was written specially for Miss Myles and she has since starred in the show for six years alongside actor, John Barrowman.

Mr Sharpe added: “Customers are putting money on a woman taking on the role. They are not being specific and are placing blanket bets.

“I think a woman would bring a different perspective to the show. It is something that has never been done before and I think it would spice things up and create a bit of interest.

“And who knows, next there might be a female Bond.”

Other favourites include David Morrissey, of television drama State of Play, Little Britain star David Walliams and former EastEnder Tom Ellis.

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